How 'Karo Sambhav' is working to transform India's e-waste sector

The infusion of more smartphones, computers and other electronics into the consumer market has made India world’s fourth-largest producer of electronic waste or e-waste, according to the Global E-Waste Monitor's 2017 report. 

Also, India is the second-largest smartphone market in the world. With over 650 million mobile phones in circulation, including 300 million smartphones, over 25 per cent of them end up as e-waste annually, the report stated. This is generating a massive pile of e-waste, which, if not disposed of or recycled properly, can cause several environmental and health risks.

Discarded laptops, refrigerators, sensors, and TVs, too, contain substances that can be extremely harmful to the environment and to those who handle such e-waste for their livelihood without proper knowledge. Mostly, e-waste is neither properly documented nor treated through appropriate recycling chains.

Recognising the immediate dangers of this harmful waste and the need for its proper disposal, Karo Sambhav, a producer responsibility organisation (PRO), is working to enable a sustainable and systemic transformation of India’s e-waste sector. It offers producers (including importers) and manufacturers of electronics and electrical equipment (EEE) a range of services to fulfil their Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) obligations under the E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2016.

Having a presence in 29 states and three Union Territories, this organisation manages helps treat e-waste dumped in India’s two biggest dumping sites — Seelampur and Mustafabad, both in Delhi. Established in 2017, its services include collection and awareness of e-waste. 

The organisation has partnered with offices, government institution, school, universities, and hospitals to set up community awareness programmes across the country.

Awareness regarding e-waste management is one of the most important goals of Karo Sambhav. Pranshu Singhl, the founder of Karo Sambhav, stresses the need for a behavioural shift in the mindset of the citizens when it comes to handling e-waste and says this can be achieved through awareness programmes conducted at several levels ranging, from schools to repair shops. “If we have to bring a larger shift to society and make it aware of how to responsibly treat e-waste, then corporations should work more responsibly. Even at individual level, there should be accountability for managing e-waste."

Moreover, when it comes to e-waste management and its treatment, it is important to know that the largest market for buying and selling remains in the informal sector. 

The job of e-waste handlers is not just tough but also life-threatening. They work with electronic products, prise them apart, put them through acid wash, and also burn circuit board all with bare hands and in open environment. They also dump harmful chemicals extracted from printer inks and batteries into water drains. 

Ashraf, an e-water aggregator who has a shop in Seelampur, said, “I have been in this business since I was 16. I buy from sellers and waste pickers (kabadiwallas) at flexible rates and after dismantling the product, I sell them various corporate and e-waste recycling hubs."

Ashraf understands the health risks that are faced while treating the waste. “There is a lot of pollution generated from burning of circuit boards to extract elements. It definitely causes a lot of health problems such as asthma, severe migraines etc. Unfortunately, this is how we earn our livelihood and our earnings are paltry depending totally on how much we are able to dismantle and sell."

Another seller with his shop close to Ashraf's mentioned how just a few days back a person was admitted to the hospital with a brain tumour, but he added," We have no other option but to work in such hazardous conditions and hope we do not face such serious health problems."

To mitigate such health issues that arise from mishandling of e-waste, Karo Sambhav helps these e-waste aggregators by buying e-waste items in one-piece and sending them to recycling units located in Chennai, Delhi, Noida and Bengaluru.

Another goal of the organisation is bringing these people to the formal sector. "We create collection channels and networks primarily for the e-waste pickers and aggregators and help build their skill sets and capacities. We help them become a part of the formal sector, educate and guide them on how to open bank accounts, pay GST, obtain e-way bills and facilitate their business in the formal sector," Pranshu added.

To bring transparency to the system of collection and treatment of e-waste, Karo Sambhav has launched a mobile application. Bulk consumers via the app can request Karo Sambhav to collect their e-waste, from a pick-up location and also track its recycling process. The app connects waste pickers, repair shops, and waste aggregators.

With an end-to-end value chain for management of e-waste, the organisation is working closely with MNCs such as Apple, Lenovo, Dell and HP. It also focuses heavily on engaging citizens in proper treatment of e-waste throughout the country. Till now it has successfully kept 3,000 MTs of e-waste away from the landfill for responsible recycling.